Looking for You in All the Wrong Places

September 25, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 4 Comments

Are you looking for you?

Surprised that I knew?

Not so surprising, I’m looking for me too.

Most of us are looking, more than a few.

And many if not all – aren’t sure what to do.

We are all looking for ourselves – more or less. An exhausting process isn’t it? Well the good news is there are a lot of clues to follow. No? Are you clueless? Perhaps you just don’t know where to look, or how.

Here’s a few hints:

LOOK INSIDE YOUR HEART – The very best of who you are resides in there. Guaranteed. The loving, caring you and the wishful dreamer.

LOOK INSIDE YOUR MIND – The contemplative you, the planner, the hopeful thinker.

LOOK INSIDE YOUR SOUL – The most inner essence of you that strives toward the unknown with nothing more than a belief to sustain you.

And then –

Seek outward, don’t be afraid to fail … get back up again. Always remember:

“Your unrealized dream is the beginning of a plan

The plan is the beginning of action.” ~Plh

A quick note about “the action of things”. It is true that those first few steps are the hardest ones. The more action the more momentum, the more momentum the more action. Got the picture? And yes it is hard, because most good things in life don’t come easy. You do have to work at them.

But the really good news about all this “doing” is the “you that you’re looking for” starts showing up, achieving and becoming; dwelling less on the who, and a lot more on what you’re achieving – which point in fact … leads you to the “you” you want to be.

So go for it. You can do it. Yes, you can!

Have a great week ahead and remember – always take care of you.

With sincere affection,

~ Penny

The Magical Wonderful You That You Are!

September 20, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 4 Comments

Have you ever thought of yourself as magical? Go ahead, take a few minutes to do so. You don’t know how? That’s okay, no worries. I’ll show you. Right now take a little time and consider the possibilities, potentials and maybe’s in your life. Or go all out here, in the now of things, and dream. Dream big dreams. Use your imagination. It’s there for a purpose. Just imagine what might be.

I’m perfectly serious because I know locked inside each of us is the desire to make a difference for personal self fulfillment. We may not know exactly how to make this happen but we all feel this way.

You see, here’s the thing: As it turns out imagination is the first step in making something seemingly unbelievable (to you) or impossible happen. Yes, it is true. First something will occur within your immediate environment and/or you come up with this original idea or desire about doing something and before you know it you’re dreaming about the maybe of things. Of course, you’ve only to read about the myriad of people who went on to become famous by first thinking a thought or idea and then imagining what it could do or what they could be if they pursued it. Which they did, because they became motivated to do so.

“So if dreamer’s dream and doer’s do

There’s nothing to stop the magic of you.” ~Plh

But why do I refer to your capabilities as magical? Well, it’s because in the normal course of things most of us spend too much time quantifying our limitations. Determining what we can’t do and internally listing all those reasons why. And then we go further and sometimes hard wire our belief in self (or lack thereof) to our psychi – the center of thought, feeling and motivation – at which point we find ourselves in a perpetual state of uncertainty. Our motivation is frozen from self induced doubt.

Meanwhile, if we think in terms of magic or the mystical power of influencing the course of events by some unknown method, and believe it to be so, why then, the magic existing inside of you (an untapped power of capability) can and will bypass the negativity you’ve amassed. And just so you know, you have unlimited resources when it comes to dreaming, imagining and then cleverly figuring out a way to make your dreams come true. And … when all is said and done I, for one, consider that pretty amazingly magical.

Have you used your magic capabilities today? Make it so. Dismiss the doubts. After all, the wonderful you that you are – is magical.

Hope you’re having a great week, thanks for stopping by and remember – always take care of you.

With sincere affection,

~ Penny

Hello You! Did You Know You Inspire Me?

May 4, 2016May 4, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

♡

No, I’m being serious here. You, the person reading this right now is who really inspires me.

I began dwelling on where inspiration came from earlier this morning, not long after waking. Going outside, I listened to delightful chirping of birdsong thinking to myself, “how lovely”. I felt a gentle breeze and the warmth of morning sunshine on my face and thought, “how soothing”.

And then I thought about us. As in people. Our incredibly diversity, our amazing talents, our awesome ability to cope with and overcome adversity, to carry on, create new ideas, to prosper and succeed.

Finally I thought about you – a unique individual, one of a kind and what you must have to face each day and on those really hard days how you not only muster the courage to go on, but you go beyond expectation and succeed within yourself inspite of the odds, the naysayers, and of course your own personal and sometimes deeply rooted self doubts.

You keep going on because when all is said and done you know, in your heart of hearts, if you just keep going you’ll make it. And so this morning I thought of you, of both your struggles and successes and quietly cheered, because not only do I believe in you but more importantly, you do too and this is why YOU …

yes, You … inspire me.

♡

Plh

That’s Just Not How Life Works – However …

February 18, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 7 Comments

I had to think a bit about the title for this blog because, as we know, life is an interesting mix of reality and – well something other, that we haven’t figured out yet – that which exists deep inside of us or outside our realm of understanding but that we still know has a connection to who we are … sort of. The perception of otherness being perhaps our spirit or our soul, or an individual sense of being, a universal consciousness.

Of course, subjectively speaking I haven’t precisely figured out how life does work. However, theoretically I have it down to a science. That is to say the science of our lives in this particular moment.

Cycles. An ongoing repetitious pattern of cycles playing out again and again with creative emotions thrown in the mix to ramp up, add color to the repetition. No seriously, think about it: I can pull passages from currently known written history of famous people who say and think the same exact things we are saying and thinking right now. Only the atmosphere, environment and players have changed … to a degree.

And if all the above words seem as confusing to you as the writing of them was for me then we are on the same page.

Life repeats itself, quite brilliantly so, and where you or I are in “the now of things” is just a microcosm of life carrying on it’s processes. There still exists the basics in human nature. Hasn’t really changed much. Survival, peace, war, love, hate, possessions, worth, value, and so on still played out within a specific set of limitations. Self or group induced and accepted. As a result of genetic indicators or environmental factors, we keep going through similar patterns of being.

However …

when we determine to step out and away from the fray, the known paradigm of cycles and patterns, then and only then do we (your and/or I) grow beyond the known. Beyond that which represents those imposing boundaries in which we dwell.

Individualism, that’s the ticket, believe it or not. Your self realization comes first, your self worth comes second, open consciousness comes third and wherever you want to go comes forth (nope didn’t misspell that word)! Your ability to achieve whatever your goal might be greatly increases by following the above criteria. Absolutely. The variety and depth of personal life experiences shape every aspect of your current life and the life beyond. Period!

That’s it. I’m done for today, make of my words what you will. They are my truth as I believe it to be. Except for love. Always include lots and lots of love to pave your way.

♡

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend to come,

~ Penny

Your Inspiration, Where Does It Come From?

January 27, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 7 Comments

The View From Your Eyes!

“The View From Your Eyes – Infinity of Being is your true inspiration” ~ Plh

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” ~ Patanjali

What inspires …

Love inspires. Beauty inspires. Bravery inspires. The human spirit of never giving up, inspires. Tenderness inspires. Happiness inspires. Caring people making a difference, inspires. Thoughtfulness, inspires.

A smile inspires. A mother and/or father caring for their family inspires. Children Inspire. The aged and elderly inspire. A young adult woman or man just starting to explore their world inspires.

The changing seasons inspire. Nature inspires. Animals inspire.

LIFE!

Life – in all it’s richness and diversity – inspires!

For some unknown reason I’ve had more than a fair share of close calls with death. Up close and personal close calls where I thought there would be no tomorrow. And I’ve dealt with pain, surgeries and months, years of coping with same, before moving on to a better place, because that happens too.

Raising my children as a single mom, messing up again and again, sometimes making very poor decisions in the process. What I’ve learned is that our life experiences mold us. They shape how we are – and who we will become.

Speaking for myself, I am a female who has survived, grateful for each new day I get to share with others. I take nothing for granted, staying hopeful that something I say or do will positively impact others. My way of saying “Thank you” to the universe for allowing me to live another day, sometimes in the face of great adversity. In summation …

Life IS our inspiration and we – through the prism of life, as viewed and experienced by ourselves – can and do inspire others. Inspiration come full circle. How rich we want our life to be entirely dependent on …

… “The view from our eyes!”

♡

Thank you, from my heart,

~ Penny

Rethinking Your Thinking – for happiness, health and every other thing.

January 4, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 5 Comments

Many of us are struggling with life issues: Health, setting goals, personal relationships, feeling fulfilled as a human being. What has helped me each day is to rethink how I think about those things in my life.

What I’ve recognized is that to feel fulfilled in my own life, I’m the one that decides what has to happen first. In other words if I am the one that decides whether to be happy each day then I need to be happy – just because I can control my thoughts and feelings – it’s up to me.

The same goes with health, setting goals in your life and yes actually figuring out how to support your family. I struggled for years as a single parent raising my children (and I had severe health issues from time to time). What I realize now is that I accidentally made life much harder on myself by worrying, adding unnecessary stress to the various situations that occurred and whether you believe me or not, how you think about where you are right now in your life determines how it will continue to go. When you take positive control over your own internal thoughts & negative emotions an amazingly change will take place.

At least the view from my eyes indicates this to be true. But you decide. As I said it’s up to each of us.

My personal daily mantra:

“Today I will unemotionally review my life, my values and my true needs and then make intentional decisions, bringing about a positive change and an immediate improvement to my attitude and total well-being … after all I am in charge of me.” ~ Plh

♡

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your first week in this new year has started off well for you.

With Affection,

~ Penny

You Light Up My Life ~ Shine on!

July 13, 2015July 13, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

LIGHT ~ (or the quantum effect of consciousness)

♡
Radiant light of sun
life depends upon.

Yet elemental flame
& technology, the same.

True light can never dim
that shines from you ~ within.

A spirit shining pure
is life’s finest lure.

The Universal Light (is)
You, forever shining bright!

Shine on! ~ Plh 2015
♡

Who You Think You Are … It Matters!

June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 21 Comments

What do you think of yourself as a person? Seriously, come on be honest here, because unless you said I’m a happy and well adjusted individual who thinks of myself as a good person then you’re probably letting the past and other people dictate many of your feelings.

Truth is the following: it doesn’t matter who you were growing up as a child, or in school, if you were viewed as or thought yourself as unliked or unpopular – it doesn’t matter now. Unless you’ve decided to make it matter.

Because who you are deep inside – is the seed of you, of your potential and the possibilities of who you are meant to be. Everything else is an outside influence, you being the one to determine how to deal with them.

Anyone who decides their own self worth is tied into what others think is not seeing themselves clearly. A foggy view at best! Your self-worth is decided by you. All other things should factor in after you realize and accept this as your personal truth.

Our experience in life shapes and molds our character, another truth, however even if your life has been filled with negative circumstances and negative verbal input, it’s still you who decides what to do.

The only person you have to prove anything to is YOU, period!

And from where I’m standing you’re looking pretty terrific. You’re a great person with a huge, sensitive caring heart. The people who don’t realize this both past and present, (because they haven’t taken the time to get to know the real you), well that’s their loss … not yours.

So take another look at who you think you are. I believe the view is pretty amazing. The view of you, as it should be!

Hope your week started off well and keeps getting better. Remember … take care of you because if you aren’t well, you can’t be there for others, or effectively accomplish your own goals.

With sincere affection,
Penny

Accomplishing the Impossible!

April 21, 2015April 21, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

Walt Disney once said “I’m doing the difficult today, tomorrow I’ll do the impossible.”

Was he crazy? No one can do the impossible. Or can they? Actually there’s a bit of a dichotomy here. What he actually meant was “what appears to be impossible becomes possible – once accomplished.”

We all know of stories about ordinary people like you and I, who figure out how to do seemingly impossible things and become successful in the process.

I’m happy to share their secret here:
They believe in themselves.
They believe in their goal.
They never give up.

Okay, what impossible thing are you going to accomplish tomorrow?

You know the secret now, so there’s no one to stop you…

…Except yourself. Your life, your choice. Make it be what you want it to be … start with the impossible. You can do it!

* * *
Thanks for stopping by, have a great tomorrow and remember to always take care of you. If you’re not okay, you can’t be there for others.

With Affection,
~ Penny

Keep Playing Your Song

April 11, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

“The music in your soul comes from your loving heart – or perhaps it’s the other way around, no matter, keep playing your beautiful song for everyone to hear.” Plh